One-step processing of hydrogels for mechanically robust and chemically desired features

ABSTRACT

The application of a highly controlled, micron-sized, branched, porous architecture to enhance the handling properties and degradation rate of hydrogels is described in the instant invention. A previously described pattern created through one-step nucleated crystallization in a hydrogel film creates tunable mechanical properties and/or chemical stability for use in tissue engineering applications. The bulk mechanical properties and the degradation rate of the material can be tuned easily by the addition or subtraction of crystalline structure or by the addition and subtraction of backfill material, making this useful for a variety of applications. Relevant mechanical properties that can be tuned through the application of this unique porosity are moduli, elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength. The method of the present invention can be applied to biopolymers and natural materials as well as synthetic materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application No.61/391,410, filed Oct. 8, 2010.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Contract Nos.BES-021744 and BES-0500969 awarded by the National Science Foundation(NSF). The government has certain rights in this invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the field of biopolymers andhydrogels, and more particularly to enhancing the handling propertiesand degradation rate of hydrogels by creating highly controlledmicron-sized porosity in a one-step process.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIALS FILED ON COMPACT DISC

None.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is describedin connection with methods of enhancing mechanical and degradationproperties of hydrogels and biopolymers.

WIPO Patent Publication No. WO 2009/108760 A8 (Zawko and Schmidt, 2009)discloses a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel bypreparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and acrystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing thecast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the castmixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing thecrystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within theuncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystalstructure under conditions in which the crystal structure within thecrosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals withinthe crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses the application of a highly controlled,micron-sized, branched, porous architecture to enhance the handlingproperties and degradation rate of hydrogels by a simple one-stepprocess involving the addition or subtraction of crystalline structureor by the addition and subtraction of backfill material. This method ofcreating pores works with natural biopolymers such as hyaluronic acidand alginate. The features of the pores are very fine and intricate andcannot be made by any other technique. The crystal-templated hydrogelsof the present invention can be used as materials for tissue engineeringdevices. The pores resemble the fine, intricate branching patterns foundin natural tissues such as microvasculature and neuronal outgrowth.These hydrogels can guide the infiltration of cells, neurite outgrowth,and vascularization into biomimetic patterns.

In one embodiment the instant invention discloses a method of making adirected branched porous polymer comprising the steps of: i) preparingan aqueous mixture of one or more uncrosslinked polymers and acrystallizable molecule, ii) casting the aqueous mixture onto a vessel,a slide, a plate, tissue-culture dish or combinations and modificationsthereof to form a cast mixture, iii) drying the cast mixture to form anamorphous polymer film, iv) seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystalof the crystallizable molecule, v) growing the crystallizable moleculeinto a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer, vi) exposingthe cast mixture to ultraviolet light, wherein the exposure results in agelling or a crosslinking of the polymer, vii) crosslinking theuncrosslinked polymer around the crystal structure by an addition of oneor more crosslinking agents under conditions in which the crystalstructure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained, viii) removingthe one or more crystals of the crystallizable polymers by rinsing withwater to form a branched porous polymer base film, ix) removing waterfrom the porous polymer base film by controlled dessication underpressure, and x) diffusing one or more backfill materials into the oneor more pores of the branched porous polymer, wherein the backfillmaterials can be same or different from the polymer base film material.

In one aspect the method comprises the additional step of simultaneouslyor separately crosslinking or covalently binding the backfill materialsto itself or the branched porous polymer forming base film material. Inanother aspect the method comprises the optional step of forming acrosslink between the branched porous polymer base film material and thebackfill material in the one or more pores of the branched porouspolymer, wherein the base film materials and the backfill materials aredifferent. In yet another aspect the directed branched porous polymer isa hydrogel, a film, a barrier or combinations and modifications thereof.In another aspect the polymer comprises nucleic acids, amino acids,saccharides, lipids and combinations thereof, in monomeric, dimeric,trimeric, oligomeric, multimeric or polymeric forms. In another aspectthe polymer is selected from the group consisting of collagen, chitosan,gelatin, pectins, alginate, hyaluronic acid, heparin, and mixturesthereof.

In one aspect of the method disclosed hereinabove the one or morebackfill materials comprise polymers, small molecules, drugs, hormones,proteins or combinations and modifications thereof. In another aspectthe crystallizable molecule comprises a small organic molecule selectedfrom a salt, urea, beta cyclodextrin, glycine, and guanidine. In anotheraspect an addition or a subtraction of the one or more backfillmaterials modify one or more bulk mechanical properties and adegradation rate of the branched porous polymer. In yet another aspectthe mechanical properties are selected from the group consisting ofmoduli, elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength. Inanother aspect the polymer is gelled by a chemical crosslink, a physicalcrosslink or a combination; wherein said crosslink is induced by an UVmethod, a temperature method, a pH method, an ion or ion-radical basedmethod or combinations thereof. In one aspect the polymer comprises abiopolymer that maybe a synthetic or a non-synthetic polymer and isbiodegradable, biocompatible, and hydrophilic.

In one aspect the aqueous mixture comprises alginate and hyaluronicacid. In a specific aspect the crystallizable molecule comprises ureaand the backfill material is hyaluronic acid. In another aspect thecrosslinking agent selected from group consisting of calcium chloride,p-Azidobenzoyl hydrazide, N-5-Azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxsuccinimide,disuccinimidyl glutamate, dimethyl pimelimidate-(2)HCl, dimethylsuberimidate-2 HCl, disuccinimidyl suberate, bis[sulfosuccinimidylsuberate], 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide-HCl,isocyanate, aldehyde, glutaraldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and derivativesthereof. In yet another aspect the method comprises the optional step ofencapsulation one or more agents selected from drugs, growth factors,hormones, proteins or combinations thereof in the one or more pores orthe matrix of the branched porous polymer.

Another embodiment of the instant invention relates to a directedbranched porous polymer made by a method that comprises: i) preparing anaqueous mixture of one or more uncrosslinked polymers and acrystallizable molecule, ii) casting the aqueous mixture onto a vessel,a slide, a plate, tissue-culture dish or combinations and modificationsthereof to form a cast mixture, iii) drying the cast mixture to form anamorphous polymer film, iv) seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystalof the crystallizable molecule, v) growing the crystallizable moleculeinto a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer, vi) exposingthe cast mixture to ultraviolet light, wherein the exposure results in agelling or a crosslinking of the polymer, vii) crosslinking theuncrosslinked polymer around the crystal structure by an addition of oneor more crosslinking agents under conditions in which the crystalstructure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained, viii) removingthe one or more crystals of the crystallizable polymers by rinsing withwater to form a branched porous polymer base film, ix) removing waterfrom the base film by controlled dessication under pressure, and x)diffusing one or more backfill materials into the one or more pores ofthe branched porous polymer, wherein the backfill materials can be sameor different from the porous polymer base film material.

In one aspect of the method above comprises the additional step ofsimultaneously or separately crosslinking or covalently binding thebackfill materials to itself or the porous polymer forming base filmmaterial. In another aspect the method comprises the optional step offorming a crosslink between the porous polymer base film material andthe backfill material in the one or more pores of the porous polymer,wherein the base film materials and the backfill materials aredifferent. In yet another aspect the directed branched porous polymer isa hydrogel, a film, a barrier or combinations and modifications thereof.In another aspect the polymer comprises nucleic acids, amino acids,saccharides, lipids and combinations thereof, in monomeric, dimeric,trimeric, oligomeric, multimeric or polymeric forms. In another aspectthe polymer is selected from the group consisting of collagen, chitosan,gelatin, pectins, alginate, hyaluronic acid, heparin, and mixturesthereof.

In yet another aspect the one or more backfill materials comprisepolymers, small molecules, drugs, hormones, proteins or combinations andmodifications thereof. In one aspect the crystallizable moleculecomprises a small organic molecule selected from a salt, urea, betacyclodextrin, glycine, and guanidine. In another aspect an addition or asubtraction of the one or more backfill materials modify one or morebulk mechanical properties (selected from the group consisting ofmoduli, elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength) and adegradation rate of the branched porous polymer. In another aspect thepolymer is gelled by a chemical crosslink, a physical crosslink or acombination; wherein said crosslink is induced by an UV method, atemperature method, a pH method, an ion or ion-radical based method orcombinations thereof. In a specific aspect the polymer comprises asynthetic or non-synthetic biopolymer that is non-cytotoxic,biodegradable, biocompatible, and hydrophilic. In other related aspectsthe aqueous mixture comprises alginate and hyaluronic acid, thecrystallizable molecule comprises urea, and the backfill material ishyaluronic acid.

In another aspect the crosslinking agent selected from group consistingof calcium chloride, p-Azidobenzoyl hydrazide,N-5-Azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxsuccinimide, disuccinimidyl glutamate,dimethyl pimelimidate-(2)HCl, dimethyl suberimidate-2 HCl,disuccinimidyl suberate, bis[sulfosuccinimidyl suberate],1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide-HCl, isocyanate, aldehyde,glutaraldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and derivatives thereof. In anotheraspect the method comprises the optional step of encapsulating one ormore agents selected from drugs, growth factors, hormones, proteins orcombinations thereof in the one or more pores or the matrix of theporous polymer. In yet another aspect the branched porous polymerprevents tissue adhesion following surgery, acts a tissue scaffold,promotes wound healing, delivers drug or growth factors to the supporthealing, inhibits or prevents infiltration of blood, blood protein,fibroblasts, and inflammatory responses in the surgical site.

In yet another embodiment the instant invention relates to a method ofmaking a porous hydrogel comprising the steps of: preparing an aqueousmixture comprising hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, and urea, casting theaqueous mixture onto a vessel, a slide, a plate, tissue-culture dish orcombinations and modifications thereof to form a cast mixture, dryingthe cast mixture to form an amorphous hydrogel film, seeding the castmixture with one or more urea crystals, growing the urea into a crystalstructure within the uncrosslinked alginate, exposing the cast mixtureto ultraviolet light, wherein the exposure results in a gelling or acrosslinking of the alginate, crosslinking the uncrosslinked alginatearound the urea crystal structure by an addition of calcium chlorideunder conditions in which the urea crystal structure within thecrosslinked alginate is maintained, removing the one or more ureacrystals by rinsing with water to form the porous hydrogel base film,removing water from the base film by controlled dessication underpressure, and diffusing hyaluronic acid into the one or more pores ofthe hydrogel.

In one aspect of the method described hereinabove the method comprisesthe optional step of encapsulating one or more agents selected fromdrugs, growth factors, hormones, proteins or combinations thereof in theone or more pores or the matrix of the porous hydrogel. In anotheraspect the hydrogel prevents tissue adhesion following surgery, acts atissue scaffold, promotes wound healing, delivers drug or growth factorsto the support healing, inhibits or prevents infiltration of blood,blood protein, fibroblasts, and inflammatory responses in the surgicalsite. In yet another aspect an addition or a subtraction of the one ormore backfill materials modify one or more bulk mechanical propertiesand a degradation rate of the porous hydrogel. More specifically, themechanical properties are selected from the group consisting of moduli,elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the techniques for fabricating thecrystal-templated biopolymer hydrogels of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D show the surface modification of templated alginate films:FIG. 2A fluorescent biotinylated HA crosslinked to surface labeled withFITC/Neutravadin. When not crosslinked, biotinylated HA washed away(4×), FIG. 2B is a glass slide for FIG. 2A, FIG. 2C is a SEM of thesurface-modified film cross-sectional surface indicating pores filled,scale bar 2 μm, and FIG. 2D is a SEM of a templated film, no surfacemodification, cross-sectional surface indicating unfilled porous, scalebar 1 μm;

FIG. 3 is a plot showing the tensile strength (as measured by theYoung's modulus) of Alginate/HA film patterned with an ureacrystallization pattern;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the ASTM D638 tensile testing of: FIG. 4A ureapatterned alginate/HA film and FIG. 4B alginate/HA film with nopatterning;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are examples of alginate/HA urea-templated films: FIG.5A linear patterning with 4% urea, 5″ by 5″ film, and FIG. 5B radialpatterning with 6% urea, 3″ by 3″ film; and

FIG. 6 is a plot showing the ASTM D638 tensile testing of alginate filmswith increased concentration of urea crystallization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention.

To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms aredefined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understoodby a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the presentinvention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to referto only a singular entity, but include the general class of which aspecific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein isused to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usagedoes not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.

The instant invention describes the application of a highly controlled,micron-sized, branched, porous architecture to enhance the handlingproperties and degradation rate (either surface or bulk degradation), ofhydrogels. A previously described pattern created through one-stepnucleated crystallization in a hydrogel film creates tunable mechanicalproperties and/or chemical stability for use in tissue engineeringapplications. The simplicity of the process of the present invention isthat bulk mechanical properties and the degradation rate of the materialcan be tuned easily by the addition or subtraction of crystallinestructure or by the addition and subtraction of backfill material,making this useful for a variety of applications.

Relevant mechanical properties that can be tuned through the applicationof this unique porosity are moduli, elasticity, tensile strength, andcompression strength. Processed hydrogels can hold a suture, be cut orbe manipulated with surgical tools even when hydrated with biologicalfluids, and be rolled, squeezed, stretched, bent, folded or crumpledwithout compromising original shape. Hydrogels can be synthesized verythin to sponge bulk on the order of 30 microns to 2 millimeters. Themethod of the present invention can be applied to biopolymers andnatural materials as well as synthetic materials.

The unique porous architecture may be backfilled by diffusion ofmaterial into the preserved, hierarchical porosity. Backfilled materialis simultaneously or separately, crosslinked or covalently bound toitself and/or base film, maintaining the desired pattern. The complex,multiple-material construct may contain polymers/materials of differentchi parameters, creating a phase-separated film with further tunablehandling properties and degradation rate. The backfilled material mayalso contain small molecules available for growth factor release or drugrelease and could be used as materials for tissue engineering devices.

The hydrogel base material may also be degraded, leaving thehierarchically branched, crosslinked backfilled material as a scaffoldor strengthening complex. The unique features of the invention are: i) ahighly controlled, micron-sized porosity created in one step, can finelymodulate the mechanical properties and degradation rate of hydrogels,ii) mechanical properties such as moduli, elasticity, tensile strength,and compression strength can be highly controlled into desired ranges,and iii) chemically desired crosslinks can be facilitated in one step bybackfilling pores with another material.

The unique benefits are: i) the resulting hydrogel(s) can be manipulatedin a surgically relevant manner and, subsequently, return or retainoriginal shape, ii) this method works with biopolymers, iii) theresulting hydrogel(s) can persist throughout the appropriate durationfor given use, and iv) the mechanical and/or chemical modulation mayoccur in one step. No other technology has this combination of features.

There are no existing methods in literature that are similar to thetechnique of the present invention. Currently employed methods tomodulate mechanical and degradation properties in tissue engineeringscaffolds are described herein below.

The most common current methods are increasing/decreasing crosslinking,blending, hydrogen bond creation, and colloidal particle addition. Verycommon to tissue engineering materials, crosslinking providescontrollable covalent bonding shown to be directly proportional tomechanical integrity, with greater crosslinking being associated withhigher strength. The advantage to this method is that no additionalmaterials are required as a strengthening agent (as in a mesh or fibrousnetwork). The disadvantage to this method is that increased crosslinkingoften leads to brittle structures and so other methods are required toprovide elasticity and/or plastic deformation. Also increasedcrosslinking requires more crosslinking agents, which are often toxic.

Blending techniques are usually straightforward in that another materialis added to the base material for the purpose of strengthening.Colloidal particle addition requires the introduction of a suspendedmaterial in the surface or bulk of the base material. These particlesact as fillers or bulking agents. While these methods arestraightforward, there may be advantages to being able to strengthenwithout additional materials. Also, blending can be non-isotropic orcause unwanted gradients or clumps, and does not lend itself to finelytuning.

Hydrogen bonds are very strong, creating significant changes inmechanical strength and degradation rates. Some techniques allow forspecific hydrogen bond formation with fine tuning capability but requiremany steps and specific equipment. Other techniques are simplifiedwithout fine-tuning capabilities.

It is well known in tissue engineering that mechanical properties ofscaffolds and implants directly influence cellular response,differentiation, proliferation, and signaling. Finely tuning themechanical properties of biopolymers and hydrogels has proven to be adifficult task without the use of lasers, additional support materialsor sophisticated crosslinking methods such as direct-write, lithographyor microfabrication. The invention presented hereinabove provides asimple, one-step tuning method to significantly alter the mechanicalproperties of biopolymers or synthetic hydrogels. Furthermore, it isdifficult to simultaneously produce a tunable degradation rate. Thepresent invention may also be utilized to tune the degradation rate ofthe hydrogel construct.

Post-surgical adhesions tether tissues that should remain separate.Adhesions result from impaired autologous natural immune response.Surgical adhesions continue to plague the recovery period, with currenttechnologies falling short of adhesion prevention. Incidence ofadhesions following surgery is 80% (Yeo, 2007) resulting in chronicpain, limited motion, organ dysfunction, and even death (Cui et al,2009). The healthcare costs associated with this are over $3.45 billion,annually (Wiseman, et al., 2010). Current approaches for preventingadhesions include better surgical practices (Holmdahl et al., 1997) (fore.g., powder free gloves, laparoscopic procedures, and reduction ofdessication), biocompatible barrier devices (for e.g., polymersolutions, in situ crosslinkable hydrogels, pre-formed membranes), andpharmacotherapy agents like steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(Dexamethasone; progesterone; hydrocortisone; prednisone), non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen; flurbiprofen; indomethacin;tolmetin; nimesulide), inhibitors of proinflammatory cytokines(Antibodies to transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1), antihistamine(Diphenhydramine; promethazine), free radical scavengers (Melatonin;vitamin E; superoxide dismutase), Anticoagulants (heparin), proteolyticagents (tissue-type plasminogen activator; streptokinase; urokinase;pepsin; trypsin; Neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist), andantiproliferative agents (mitomycin).

The most effective anti-adhesion barrier on the market reduces adhesionformation by only 50%. Many products are based on synthetic materialsbecause of superior handling capabilities and low manufacturing costs.However, these synthetic materials are rendered ineffective in thepresence of blood or blood proteins. The invention presented hereinaddresses the problems listed above and provides an effective method ofblocking the infiltration of unwanted inflammatory response whilemaintaining robust mechanical properties for surgical handling. Becausethe present invention is constructed of natural materials, the risk offurther aggravation is minimized, while blood and blood proteins willnot adhere. Barriers on the market made from natural materials alsodegrade too quickly, allowing for adhesion formation. The presenttechnology has a tunable degradation rate so that the barrier persistsduring the healing process.

Current products on the market that are most effective have poorhandling properties. They are brittle when dry and are renderedinapplicable when wet. In an OR environment, a suitable solution wouldbe able to maintain mechanical integrity when wet. The present inventionoffers superior handling properties when wet including in vivorepositioning capabilities and suturability.

The present invention describes the development of composite,dual-functioning materials to be placed at the interface between healingtissues and the surrounding tissues. The invention improves uponanti-adhesive biomaterial barriers, to aid in wound healing, and tomodulate the inflammatory response. The present inventors have developedand characterize anti-adhesive hyaluronic acid HA-based material(biocompatible, non-immunogenic, non cell-adhesive, inhibits proteinabsorption, mechanically stable, cost effective, clinically sized, andappropriate degradation rate). In addition the present inventors havedeveloped a bilayer biofunctionalized HA-based film that isbiocompatible, bioabsorbable, non-immunogenic, dual functioning,regenerative, anti-adhesive, mechanically stable, cost effective, andclinically sized. Finally, they develop an injectable solution versionof anti-adhesive film that is biocompatible, effective at reducingadhesions, encapsulates ibuprofen or tranexamic acid and has tunablerelease rates.

Hydrogels are generally polymer chain networks that are water-insoluble,but that absorb water. Often described as being “superabsorbent,”hydrogels are able to retain up to 99% water and can be made fromnatural or synthetic polymers. Often, hydrogels will have a high degreeof flexibility due to their high water content. Common uses forhydrogels include: sustained drug release, as scaffolds (e.g., in tissueengineering), as a thickening agent, as a biocompatible polymer, inbiosensors and electrodes and for tissue replacement applications.Natural hydrogels may be made from agarose, methylcellulose, hyaluronicacid (HA), and other naturally-derived polymers.

HA is a linear polysaccharide with repeating disaccharide units composedof sodium D-glucuronate and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This naturallyoccurring glycosaminoglycan is a component of skin, synovial fluid, andsubcutaneous and interstitial tissues. HA is metabolically eliminatedfrom the body, and plays a role in protecting and lubricating cells andmaintaining the structural integrity of tissues. Anionic carboxylicgroups immobilize water molecules giving HA its viscoelastic and anticell-adhesive properties. HA has been used in a variety of materialdesigns for the prevention of postsurgical tissue adhesion. HA has beenused as a dilute solution, a crosslinked hydrogel or combined with CMCinto sheets. HA is biocompatible, bioabsorbable/non-immunogenic(non-animal), very non-cell adhesive, polyanionic, hydrophilic,antifibrotic (1% HMW HA, Massie, 2005), pro-angiogenic and has beenshown to reduce adhesion formation in animals and humans (Zawaneh, 2008;Diamond, 2006; Wiseman, 2010; Rajab, 2010). HA is clinically used toreduce adhesions: Seprafilm®, most effective and widely usedanti-adhesion barrier on the market.

Alginic acid is biocompatible, bioabsorbable/non-immunogenic(non-animal) (Skjak-Braek, 1992), very non-cell adhesive, polyanionic,hydrophilic, cost effective, abundant (brown seaweed), mechanicallyviable for handling/suturing in ionically crosslinked form, and is shownto be significantly effective at adhesion prevention in animal models(Namba, 2006; Cho, 2010a; Cho, 2010b).

Attributes of alginate that statistically alter mechanical properties:(i) grade (Purification), (ii) gulcuronate to mannuronate ratio (High Mratio is pond-grown, primarily leaves, High G is deep sea harvested,primarily stems), and (iii) molecular weight/viscosity. However, highlypurified alginate is very expensive ˜$100/g, lower grade (inexpensive)alginates are not tested for molecular weight or G:M ratio, andpurification processes are not standardized.

Crystal templated hydrogels of alginate and HA were created by casting adroplet of solution containing a photocrosslinkable derivative of HA, aphotocrosslinkable derivative of alginate with photoinitiator (PI) andurea (FIG. 1). The solvent is evaporated and a urea seed crystal istouched to the droplet to nucleate urea crystallization. Aftercrystallization the alginate and HA are photocrosslinked by UV exposure.Alginate may be further crosslinked ionically and rinsed with water toremove the urea leaving behind an alginate/HA hydrogel templated withthe pattern of the urea crystals. The hydrogel may then be dehydratedfor further surface modification using crosslinking agents (such aswater soluble carbodiimides in ethanol/deionized water mixtures).

The method for preparing the alginate/HA films as described in thepresent invention includes five steps: film casting, solventevaporation, crystal growth, crosslinking, and rinsing. In the firststep a syringe filter introduces a solution comprisingalginate/GMHA/urea on a plate. The solution is then cast as a film at25° C. at 70% relative humidity. Solvent evaporation is required toachieve the super-saturation conditions necessary for crystallization.Evaporation also greatly increases the biopolymer concentration andsolution viscosity. The combination of high viscosity and hydrogenbonding suppresses spontaneous urea crystallization and facilitatessuper-saturation. Urea seed crystals are deposited on the tips of a finepair of tweezers and is added to nucleate crystallization followed byexposure to UVA (500 mW/cm²) for 15 secs. Crystal growth beganimmediately and produced long dendritic branches that extended from thecenter to the edge of the film. Within seconds the entire volume of thehydrogel films were filled with urea crystals. These crystals comprisedthe urea crystal template. The films may optionally be crosslinked by anaddition of one or more cross linking agents (for example an ioniccrosslinking solution like CaCl₂ is added to the film to crosslink thealginate). The urea crystals are then rinsed out with double distilledwater. The film formed thus is subjected to controlled dessication underforce to remove water at 50% relative humidity. The dehydrated film maybe subjected to further surface modification by creating one or moreester or less hydrolysable bonds by a variety of techniques (e.g.,soaking in a HA solution using water soluble carbodiimide for esterbonds).

Alginate films alone degraded too quickly in chelating environment.Calcium ions chelated by multiple salts and can degrade within a fewhours. (Islam, 2010). Adding GMHA decreases degradation, but withoutcompromising the mechanical strength provided by alginate. Alginatefilm, alone, is too brittle and breaks with little manipulation. Addingurea introduces micron-sized pores which provide flexibility becausespaces accept forces first.

FIGS. 2A-2D show the surface modification of templated alginate films.FIG. 2A shows fluorescent biotinylated HA crosslinked to surface labeledwith FITC/Neutravadin. When not crosslinked, biotinylated HA washed away(4×). FIG. 2B is a glass slide for FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is a SEM of thesurface-modified film cross-sectional surface indicating pores filled,scale bar 2 μm and of a templated film, no surface modification,cross-sectional surface indicating unfilled porous, scale bar 1 μm,respectively.

A plot showing the tensile strength (as measured by the Young's modulus)of Alginate/HA film patterned with an urea crystallization pattern isshown in FIG. 3. The modulus is significantly increased with surfacemodification and backfilling of HA. The films used were templated with4% urea. The ASTM D638 tensile testing of urea patterned alginate/HAfilm and alginate/HA film with no patterning is shown in FIGS. 4A and4B. The patterned film recoils in response to plastic deformation beforefailure. The non-patterned film breaks with a brittle fracture. Examplesof alginate/HA urea-templated films are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, linearpatterning with 4% urea, 5″ by 5″ film (FIG. 5A), and radial patterningwith 6% urea, 3″ by 3″ film (FIG. 5B). FIG. 6 is a plot showing the ASTMD638 tensile testing of alginate films with increased concentration ofurea crystallization. The trend indicates increased plasticity withincreased crystallization patterning.

The instant invention provides significant advantages over existingmethods. These include, (i) the resulting hydrogel(s) can be manipulatedin a surgically relevant manner and, subsequently, return or retainoriginal shape; (ii) this method works with biopolymers; (iii) theresulting hydrogel(s) can persist throughout the appropriate durationfor given use; and (iv) the mechanical and/or chemical modulation mayoccur in one step.

It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specificationcan be implemented with respect to any method, kit, reagent orcomposition of the invention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositionsof the invention can be used to achieve methods of the invention.

It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein areshown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention.The principal features of this invention can be employed in variousembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no morethan routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specificprocedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to bewithin the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specificationare indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art towhich this invention pertains. All publications and patent applicationsare herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term“comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” butit is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,”and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims isused to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer toalternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, althoughthe disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternativesand “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used toindicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for thedevice, the method being employed to determine the value or thevariation that exists among the study subjects.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (andany form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having”(and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and anyform of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing”(and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) areinclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecitedelements or method steps.

The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to allpermutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term.For example, “A, B, C or combinations thereof” is intended to include atleast one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC, and if order is important in aparticular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC or CAB.Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations thatcontain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, MB, BBC,AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan willunderstand that typically there is no limit on the number of items orterms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein canbe made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this inventionhave been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will beapparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied tothe compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence ofsteps of the method described herein without departing from the concept,spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes andmodifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to bewithin the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

REFERENCES

WIPO Patent Publication No. WO 2009/107860 A8: Dendritic MacroporousHydrogels Prepared by Crystal Templating.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: uncrosslinked hyaluronicacid included in a hydrogel film; and crosslinked alginate included inthe hydrogel; wherein (a) the alginate is crosslinked with calcium, (b)the alginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid,(c) the hyaluronic acid and the alginate are formed around a network ofpores that are backfilled with a backfill material; and (d) theapparatus is included in a kit comprising a chemical component thatdissolves the backfill material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe network is branched.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thebackfill material includes at least one of hyaluronic acid and alginate.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backfill material is bound toat least one of the hyaluronic acid and the alginate.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein degradation rate of the hydrogel is based on thebackfill material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein mechanicalproperties of the hydrogel are based on the backfill material, themechanical properties selected from the group consisting of moduli,elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength.
 7. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the hydrogel encapsulates at least one of a drug,growth factor, hormone, protein, and combinations thereof.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel includes at least one of adrug, growth factor, hormone, protein, and combinations thereof.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is a crystal templatednetwork.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the network includes acrystal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backfill material isbound to at least itself.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the kitcomprises a calcium chelator.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinwater has been at least partially removed from the hydrogel film.
 14. Anapparatus comprising: a hydrogel film having first and second opposingends; uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid included in the hydrogel;crosslinked alginate included in the hydrogel; extending within thehydrogel; wherein (a) the alginate is crosslinked with calcium, (b) thealginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (c)the pores are backfilled with a backfill material, and (d) the backfillmaterial is bound to at least one of the hyaluronic acid and thealginate.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the backfill materialincludes at least one of hyaluronic acid and alginate.
 16. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the backfill material is bound to at least itself.17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the degradation rate of thehydrogel is based on the backfill material.
 18. The apparatus of claim14, wherein the mechanical properties of the hydrogel are based on thebackfill material, the mechanical properties selected from the groupconsisting of moduli, elasticity, tensile strength, and compressivestrength and the backfill material bound to at least one of thehyaluronic acid and the alginate includes the backfill material being atleast one of (i) cross-linked to at least one of the hyaluronic acid andthe alginate, and (ii) covalently bound to at least one of thehyaluronic acid and the alginate.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe backfill material includes at least one of a drug, growth factor,hormone, peptide, protein, and combinations thereof.
 20. The apparatusof claim 14 included in a kit comprising a calcium chelator.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 14 included in a kit comprising a chemical componentthat dissolves the backfill material.
 22. The apparatus of claim 14,wherein water has been at least partially removed from the hydrogelfilm.
 23. An apparatus comprising: uncrosslinked hyaluronic acidincluded in a hydrogel film; and crosslinked alginate included in thehydrogel; wherein (a) the alginate is crosslinked with calcium, (b) thealginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (c)the hyaluronic acid and the alginate are formed around a network ofpores that are backfilled with a backfill material; and (d) the backfillmaterial includes at least one of hyaluronic acid and alginate.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein the backfill material is bound to atleast one of the hyaluronic acid and the alginate.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 23, wherein degradation rate of the hydrogel is based on thebackfill material.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein mechanicalproperties of the hydrogel are based on the backfill material, themechanical properties selected from the group consisting of moduli,elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein the hydrogel encapsulates at least one ofa drug, growth factor, hormone, protein, and combinations thereof. 28.The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the hydrogel includes at least one ofa drug, growth factor, hormone, protein, and combinations thereof. 29.The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the network is a crystal templatednetwork.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the network includes acrystal.
 31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the backfill material isbound to at least itself.
 32. The apparatus of claim 23 included in akit comprising a calcium chelator.
 33. The apparatus of claim 23included in a kit comprising a chemical component that dissolves thebackfill material.
 34. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein water has beenat least partially removed from the hydrogel film.
 35. The apparatus ofclaim 23, wherein the backfill material includes at least one of a drug,growth factor, hormone, peptide, protein, and combinations thereof.